THOUSANDS of revellers descended on Liverpool city centre yesterday to enjoy a riot of music, dancing and colour.

Under the artistic direction of Notting Hill Carnival designer Ray Mahabir, the city was turned into a mini Rio de Janeiro for the Liverpool Street Carnival Parade.

The event certainly lived up to its billing with cultural, community and educational organisations from across the region parading in more than 800 costumes.

Music filled the air, everything from pop singer Justin Timberlake to a Caribbean calypso beat, as the drumbeats set the rhythm for the parade.

The day was not blessed with much sunshine but the reds, oranges and yellows in the performers' costumes were an easy distraction from the dark clouds above.

Starting off at St George's Plateau, the parade went through the streets of Liverpool, passing Lime Street, St John's Lane, Whitechapel, Queen's Square and Lord Street before finally reaching the Pier Head.

Acrobats used bus stops, bins and telephone boxes to display their improvised skills as they went through the streets.

After the procession ended, the crowds then enjoyed two stages of entertainment with music from places as far afield as Jamaica and Holland.

A dance stage was also set up with talent from South Africa, Spain and Costa Rica.

Plenty of local talent was also on show including The Liverpool Black Sisters and the Walton Youth Group.

The Liverpool Street Carnival had more than 14 hours of street music, dance and theatre in nine venues across Merseyside.

It launched this year's three-week long Merseyside Street Festival.

Other festival events include a street circus in Southport on Saturday, a "world in one city" performance featuring dancers and musicians from 17 countries in the Liverpool Playhouse on Saturday, August 2, and a weekend of circus and street arts in Liverpool city centre on August 2 and 3.

Gerald Dutton, 65, and his wife Brenda, 62, had both come to Merseyside from their home in Anglesey to be surprised by the sight of the festival.

Mr Dutton, now retired, but originally from Birkenhead, said: "We came down here to do something and we found out this was happening.

"It's a fantastic surprise and a very impressive sight. The parade was very good and it's good that they were able to get so many people involved."

John Holding and his family also came down for the parade.

The 39-year-old brought his wife Michelle, two children Emily, four, and Carl, 11, with Carl's friend Paul O'Brien, also 11.

Mr Holding from Knowsley said: "We really enjoyed today and it's a great trip out of the kids.

"They really liked the music, the costumes and the dancing. It really shows how Liverpool can pull these things off."